A rock burst is a spontaneous, violent failure of rock that can occur in high-stressmines. Although mines may experience many mining-related seismic events, only the tremors associated with damage to accessible mine workings are classified as rock bursts.[1] The opening of mine workings relieves neighboring rocks of tremendous pressure, which can cause the rock to fail explosively or trigger abrupt movement in nearby geological structures. Rock bursts are a serious hazard; in South Africa, they kill roughly 20 miners each year.[2][3]
^Gibowicz, Sławomir J. (1994). An introduction to mining seismology. Academic Press. p. 1. ISBN0122821203. OCLC1057952976.